Prop and Jet Engines
What is the difference between the two?
Prop Planes
Propfans
Turbofans are the providers of choice for strategic transports, such as big tankers and AEW/ISR airplanes, while turboprops are a better solution for shorter-range and assault transports. The propfan however promises to offer the potential to satisfy the different requirements of all the classes stated above of military aircraft. The one exception lies with the COIN types of aircraft. The interest in propfans grew as an alternative to high-bpr turbofans in the commercial airlines back in the early 1980s, with the oil crisis underway. Several research programs were put into place, leading to solutions being found by Pratt & Whitney, General Electric and Rolls Royce.
Turpoprops
Propfans are the most efficient powerplant type for the sub-sonic fleet because they offer the highest consistant speed while maintaining the long-range duties of the aircraft. However, many other roles are taken over by the turpoprop class of planes. Turpoprops take the role of short and medium range tactical missions. These short and medium ranged missions involve being able to take off and land on shorter runways and able to endure tactical missions rather than the capabilities to fly at high altitudes and high speeds. Turpoprops may not fly as fast as propfans, but they generate more thrust in order to fill into the tactical role of an aircraft.
I have worked with both Jet engines and Prop engines. Most my experience comes from working with Prop engines. I still do not know every moving part or what the part does with a prop engine, but I am learning quickly the ins and outs of the engine. For many months I had never worked on a Jet engine, so all I was accustomed to was prop engines. I had gotten used to performing several tasks on the engines, and didn't know any difference between the two. Until I had worked on a Jet engine, I figured Prop engines would be the easier of the two to work on because prop planes are smaller and Jets are much larger. However, I was wrong by coming to this conclusion because prop engines are much more complex. I learned the harder of the two first, so when and if I ever work on Jet engines I will pick up the skills quickly.
My experience with Prop Engines
Prop Planes provide for a more conservative route to flying across the world. However, the rides consist of more turbulence as well as more outside noise from the engines. More times than not prop planes are also smaller than Jets. They carry less people, have smaller engines and consist of less power.